. >> reporter: iran's president ahmadinejad will address the united nations general assembly next week. this iranian journalist who was jailed in 2004 says the timing of this release announcement is hardly a coincidence. >> if he releases them, it shows the case was political from the beginning. it shows the judiciary has been under the influence of the iranian intelligence and the entire case was a game for the iranian intelligence. >> reporter: now, there's some speculation that ahmadinejad might even bring the two hikers with him to the united states as he comes to address the united nations. that's scheduled for some time next thursday. and, scott, it's worth noting that sarah shourd was released just one week before he addressed the general assembly last year. >> pelley: seth, thank you. there is new evidence today of just how deeply the economic slowdown has hurt americans. the census bureau reports that the recession drove nine million people into poverty and cut the standard of living for millions more. the number living below the poverty line-- that's about $11,000 for an indi